Apparatus for washing clothes



Oct? J. J. McCABE I 2,300,055

APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES Fi led May 14, 1934 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 27, l942 APPARAT S FOR WASHING CLOTHES John J. McCabe, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Company,

Application May 14, 1934, Serial No. 725,533

, 2 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in method and apparatus for washing clothes.

Clothes washing machines of the type in which an agitator is mounted centrally in a.,washing machine vat, commonly known in the art as dolly type machines may, in general, be divided into two classes. The first class utilizes a continuously rotating dolly while those of the second class employ an oscillating dolly.

Machines of the first class, although they have a distinct advantage in that they circulate the water and clothes in one direction only, insuring thorough and continuous circulation of the clothes and washing fluid around and around the entire circumference of the annular space between the dolly and the vat, have at least two disadvantages which have practically restricted their commercial use; first, the clothes tend to wrap around and become entangled on the dolly and may be more rapidly worn or even torn if the dragging action of the dolly becomes too positive; second, the clothes tend tocirculate substantially in a body-that is, the clothes may not be relatively agitated and drawn sufllciently to insure thorough intermingling of the clothes with the washing fluid, or onthe other hand, a longer period of time may be required to effectively wash the clothes.

These advantages have led, in this type of machine, to the practically universal commercial adoption of the oscillatory type of dolly. However, the oscillatory dolly machine has certain inherent disadvantages, the most important of which may be thatwhile the clothes are perhaps more thoroughly agitated than in the rotatable type, due to the fact that the action of the dolly in one direction is counteracted by the action in the opposed direction at regular alternate intervals the clothesremain substantially in the same position circumferentially of the vat within the limits of the oscillatory movement of the dolly clothes are not readily exposed to cleansing action. Y

Further, both of the above types of machines have one common disadvantage in that the clothes, while they are to a certain extent both-q circulated and agitated. are not during the operation, spread out, unfolded and separated so as to expose each portion of each article individually to a thorough washing action.

By the present invention, a radically new method and apparatus for washing clothes is produced, markedly different from either of the above types of machines or the methods carried out thereby in that the method and apparatus of the present invention insures a thorough circulation of the washing fluid and movement of the clothes being washed in one direction around the vat whereby the clothes are thoroughly cleansed-by rubblngfriction and the movement of the fluid throughout the entire circumference of the vat, while at the same time eliminating the tendency for the clothes to wrap around or entangle on the dolly.

In addition, this invention has certain other 4 method and apparatus may be said to be treated and washed individually.

Each article of clothing during the washing cycle is individually drawn away and separated from the collective batch of clothes and is unfolded, flexedand is individually subjected to the rubbing action of the .dolly and the adjacent clothes while in the washing fluid so that'the entire surface ofeach article .is substantially uniformly subjected to the cleansing action of the washing fluid and is thoroughly and uniformly washed in a reasonably short period of time.

More specifically, an object of this invention is i to provide an oscillatabledolly so constructed and arranged that it will cause the water to circulate around the vat in one direction whereby complete circulation of the clothes is obtained.

A further object is toprovide an oscillatable dolly in the general form of a cone-shaped body with a spiral blade or blades thereon so constructed and arranged that it will cause the fluid in the vat to circulate around the tub in one direction, the velocity of such circulation how-' i ever, being, during spaced substantially uniform intervals, retarded or caused to hesitate and during which retardation or hesitation periods, a partial vacuum or substantial suction is produced between the spiral blades, particularly near the upper ends thereof whereby the clothes, more or less, piece by piece are drawn into the space between the upper ends of the blades and are sucked downwardly to be thrown, forced or drawn out at the bottom ends of the blades at the expiration of the alternate retardable or hesitation periods and during the alternate periods when-the velocity of circulation of the fluid and clothes in the unitary direction has been accelerated. This operation is rendered more effective by reason of the fact that the width of the blades increase as the bottom of the agitator is approached.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a method of washing clothes which consists in actuating or moving a washing fluid in a vat containing clothesto be washed in such a manner that it circulates continuously in a unitary direction accompanied by an intermittent alternate retardation period or in case, for instance, of heavy load with a seeming hesitation period during which retardation or hesitation period, the clothes are drawn or sucked by a partial vacuum downwardly at the center of the vat with the distinct tendency to pull out and separate each article from adjacent articles so that they move piece by piece toward the bottom of the vat until they reach the lower part of the vat where they are forced outwardly until they reach the side of the vat and they then move forwardly in the direction of circulation and upwardly and inwardly until they reach the upper surface of the vat near the, center thereof and are subjected to the reduced pressure existing near that point and the cycle is repeated. The form of direction of movement is generally in an advancing spiral around the vat with intermittent periods of retardation which may even reach a seeming hesitation with heavy loads.

The velocity of the advancing movement of the washing fluid and the clothes in the advancing spiral direction described varies somewhat dependent upon the load or amount of clothes in a vat of predetermined size containing a predetermined amount of washing fluid. With a predetermined quantity of washing fiuid and a small load of clothes, the velocity of the washing fluid and clothes around the vat is relatively rapid and the length of the spiral during which the cycle of operation is completed may extend some'distance around the vat. On the other hand, with the same quantity of washing fluid and a comparatively large or heavy load. of clothes, the cycle of operation as determined by a single movement of water and clothes through the defined spiral is comparatively short and may take place Within an arc of movement of 180 degrees more or less. In other words, the inclination and length of the spiral defining a single cycle of operation is dependent upon the amount of washing fluid in the vat as compared with the load of clothes.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view showing a dolly of this invention mounted in a clothes washing vat and also showing in general the direction of circulation of the water and clothes.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the center line of the dolly showing a portion of the vat and the operating means for the dolly.,

in Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of dolly in which the post section of the dolly terminates at a point closely adjacent to the base thereof. 7

This invention, as illustrated herein, comprises an ordinary vat or tub I preferably circular in horizontal cross-section and may be provided with a removable cover 2. The bottom of the tub at substantially its central portion is provided with an opening for the reception of one end'of an upstanding sleeve 3 secured to the bottom 4 of the tub in any suitable water-tight manner. This sleeve constitutes a bearing for an oscillatory dolly shaft 5 which extends upwardly from a point without the vat to a point above the sleeve 3.

Any usual and well-known means may be provided for oscillating the dolly shaft through a desirable 'arc as, for instance, 180 degrees more or less, and there is here shown a gear case 6, in which suitable gearing comprising a pinion 20 fixed to the shaft 5 and a segment gear or rack 2, driven by any suitable source of power is provided to oscillate the dolly shaft 5. The dolly The dolly of this invention is of new, novel and peculiar form and arrangement and comprises, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 a conical body section M with a central upstanding frustoconical part [0 merging at its upper end into a substantially cylindrical post section i i terminating at a point normally projecting some distance above the water level in the vat. An elongated screw i2 is provided to secure the dolly to its shaft 5. v

A series, in this instance, of two curved or spirally arranged blades it are secured upon or project outwardly from the conical portions i8 and m of the dolly as they extend downwardly from top to bottom thereof. The upper ends it of these blades may, as shown, extend vertically in substantially straight lines along the post section i i of the dolly, but merge symmetrically into the spirally arranged blade portions on the cone surfaces of the dolly. Although these blades may projecta uniform distance from thesurfac'e of the post section H and the conical part it of the dolly. throughout their length, it is preferable that they should gradually widen as they extend downwardly from theirupper ends to their lower ends. In this manner, paths are defined by the blades which extend spirally around the cone surface of the dolly as indicated by the arrows nearest to the dolly in Figure 1. Further, the degree of curvature of the spiral blades may vary substantially but it is found that good results are obtained when the lower end of the blade terminates approximately degrees around the circumferspiral portion of the blade, but preferably grad ually increases from the upper and lower portions of the blade toward an intermediate portion thereof. This inclination of the blade with respect to a line normal to the cone surface forms a pocket upon one side of the blade as indicated at i5.

During the operation of the dolly the vat contents are circulated continuously around the axis of the vat in a counterclockwise direction.

When the dolly moves reversely in a clockwise direction, the spiral arrangement of the blades on the cone surface, assisted in some extent by the inclination of the blades with respect to a line normal to the cone surface, permits the blades to move through the washing fluid without causing an equal reverse movement thereof. However, this clockwise alternate movement of the dolly tends to a certain extent, to momentarily retard the flow of the fluid around the vat in a'counterclockwise direction. So far as the dolly is concerned, this retarding movement depends greatly upon the radius upon, which the spirals. are formed, as well as the extent of ln-' clination of the blades with respect to a. line normines the extent to'wlrich that flow in one direction is retarded by clockwise movement of the dolly.

The dolly shown in Figure 4 is substantially the same as the dolly of Figure 1, and it comprises a conicalbase or body portion I6 supportinga pair of agitating blades ll-l|. Centrally of the body portion, there is provided a relatively short upstanding conical post section l8 provided for reception of a screw for securing the dolly to its shaft. Substantially, the only difference between this form of the invention and that shown in Figure 1 is that the post section is not extended to the top of the dolly in the-present case as it is in the earlier described form of the invention.

Although thepitch of the conical portion of the dolly of this invention may vary considerably,

it is found that the effective operation thereofin connection'with the spirally arranged blades.

preferably inclined with respect to a, line normal to the cone surfaces and preferably utilizing a cone dolly base of low pitch in combination with a substantially vertical post section of conical shape at its lower end. Further, the inclination of'the spiral blades with respect to a linnormal to the surface. of the cone or post section may vary considerably, but is found here also that the tendency of the dolly to cause a retarding of the circulation of the fluid in one direction about the vat is decreased as this angle is decreased within limits and an angle of from 10 to 15 degrees is found effective in forming the desired pocket on theblade as hereinbefore defined. The dolly is shown having two blades which are regarded as the minimum number for effecting the best results. It is, of course,'understood that more than two blades might be used if desired extent to which the circulation is retarded dur ing alternate periods of oscillation of the dolly. As the radius is decreased, the extent of the re- .cone from the upper portion of the blade.

tarding of the circulation decreases. As before stated, a satisfactory result is obtained when the lower end of the blade terminates at a point about 90 degrees around the circumference of the Further, the length of the are through which the dolly is oscillated has a material bearing upon the efficiency of the dolly in effecting the .washing operation. Increasing the length of the arc of oscillation within limits seems to increase the efliciency of the dolly and it is' found that arcs of a length approximating 180 degrees more or less is effective in the operation of this apparatus.

Although the method of washing effected by this apparatus has been heretofore generally described, it may further be said, as perhaps best illustrated by the arrows in Figure 1, that in operation when the dolly is moved in a counterclockwise direction, the washing fluid and clothes are caught by the spirally arranged blades and moved or pulled forwardly and when the dolly reverses in a clockwise direction, the vat contents are accelerated in a reverse direction, though to a lesser extent than they were in the counterclockwise direction.-

In addition to the general movement of the vat contentsaround the tub, which has heretofore been defined as a circulatorymovement, other movements are impressed upon the vat contents which include a vortex type of movement. in

which the vat contents are impelled radially from the center of the vat at the bottom portion thereof, then moved upwardly along the vat side walls first in one direction and then in a reverse direc and then inwardly toward the center of the vat at the top portion of the liquid, and thendownwardly along the axis of the vat, whereupon the parted to the vat contents, are of greater magnitude than are the clockwise accelerations imparted to the vat contents when the dolly moves in a clockwise direction.

The vortex movement of the vat contents occasioned by the movements of the dolly blades,

tion, is of a substantially continuous nature, and the velocity of this movement as would be expected, varies for the different portions of the movement of the dolly, and seemingly is greater for the clockwise movements than it is for the counterclockwise movements of the dolly. In the operation 'ofthe dolly, articles being laundered, can be observed to move part by part and piece-by piece inwardly from the top portion of the vat, and then downwardly in the zone of agitation ofthe dolly blades.

The vortex' and circulatory movements imparted to the vat contents, combined to define two successive substantially spiral paths of fluid movements in different directions, each spiral path including an outward'upwardly inclining portion and a downwardly extending innner portion, and during such movement, separating and flexing of the clothes takes place at the inner downwardly inclining portion of the path, followed by the clothes .and liquid in the vat.

The separating and flexing of the clothes as they move during the cycle of operation, insures a more thorough and uniform washing action. The alternate clockwise movements of the dolly causes an intermittent retardation of the circulatory movement of the vat contents during each cycle of operation of the dolly, and during such The present dolly, during its operation, imparts to the vat contents a very pronounced and strong vortex movement and this movement, when com bined with the circulatory movement previously referred to, defines a new and different method of washing clothes from that accomplished with the patented device. The changes in the action of the present dolly as compared with the Kirby dolly result from certain changes in the shape and dimensions of the dolly blades consisting principally in reducing the width of the blades as the top of the dolly is approached which efifects a very decided difference in the washing action of the dolly by the addition of a well-defined vortex movement which is not produced in the use of the Kirby agitator referred to.

In doing an ordinary family washing, the liquid level in the tub is kept at a point an inch or so below the top of the dolly, although this level may be varied to some extent without changing the washing action during the operation of the dolly to any great xtent. In washing laces, fine silks and other fragile and delicate articles, it is preferred to materially reduce the liquid level in the vat to a depth of from three to four inches of liquid. When operated in this manner, the action of the dolly is much gentler than it is when the vat is filled with liquid to a point closely approaching the top of the dolly.

Furthermore, it is to he understood that the particular form of dolly shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth are presented for purposes of explanation and that various modifications of said device and procedure can be I claim:

1. In a clothes washing machin the combination of a receptacle having a bottom and sides, a shaft projecting through said bottom into said receptacle, means for imparting 'altemate rotary movement to said shaft relative to said receptacle, a circular disc secured to said shaft adjacent to said bottom, a vane rising'from the upper surface of said disc, said vane having a radial extent at the bottom thereof corresponding substantially to the radius of the disc and terminating at the top in a portion having a radial extent less than half the radius of the disc, the bottom portion of said blade being curved adjacent its juncture with the disc to provide a cupped section,

the top portion of said blade being curved to provide a cupped section having a concavity opposite that at the bottom of the blade, said disc helm, further characterized by having the periphery thereof spaced from the side walls of the receptacle to cause a roll-over action of clothes in the space between the vane arid the sides of the receptacle.

2. In a clothes washing machine the combination of a receptacle having a bottom and sides, a shaft projecting through said bottom into said receptacle, means for imparting alternate rotary movement to said shaft relative to said receptacle, a conical agitator base'secured to said shaft adjacent to said bottom,-an integrally formed, coaxially aligned conical portion rising from said base, a vane rising from th upper surface of said base and integrally connected along an edge thereof with said conical portion, said vane having a radial extent adjacent the base corresponding substantially to the radius of the base and decreasing in width thereabove to terminate at the top in a portion less than half the radius of the base, the bottom portion of the vane being cupped adjacent its juncture with the base and the top portion of the vane beingcupped in an. opposite direction, said base being spaced from the sides of the receptacle to cause an outward movement of the clothes along the bottom oi the receptacle into the space between the vane and the sides of the receptacle.

some J. MCCABE. 

